Samuel a



I (No Model.)

S. A. YOUNG.

GAR COUPLING. 7 No.- 374,030 Patented Nov. 29, 1887.

INVBNTOR:

7 BY M ATTORNEYS-I.

U ITED. STATES- PATENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL A. YOUNG, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

CAR-COUPLING.

"SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 3'l4,030, dated November 29, 1887.

Applioation filed September 9, 18&7. Serial. No. 249,251. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL A. YOUNG, of;

- tions whereby to effect the automatic dropping of the pin on the entrance of the link, and also simple means for adjusting the outer end of the secured link, in order that it may properly enter draw-heads of different heights.

The invention consists in certain novel constructions and combinations of parts, as will be described and claimed. a

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section of my improved coupling,

the pin being lowered to secure a link, and

such link being shown elevated in dotted lines by the link-adj uster. .Fig. 2 is a perspective end view of the coupling, showing the linkadjuster lowered. Fig. 3 is a horizontal longitudinal section of the coupling, showing the 3 link-adj uster, and'alsoillustrating thelever for operating such adjuster. Fig. 4. is a detail view of the adjuster. Fig. 5 is a detail view of a removable wrench-like handle foroperating the link-adjuster; and Fig. 6 is a detail view of the pin-seat, dotted lines being employed to indicate a handle by which such seat might be set forward, in order to dispense with the spring when so desired.

The draw-head A, except in the particulars hereinafter mentioned, may be of ordinary construction, being --provided with a flaring link socket, a, and with pin-holes l and 2 through its top and bottom walls. In the upper face of the bottom wall of the draw-head I form a mortise, 13,111 advance'of the pinopening 2, which mortise has rearwardly-extended side wings, I), which extend back alongside the pin-opening 2, as shown. In this mortise I fit the link-adjuster, or, as it may be termed, the lifting-hook, O, the upper side of which when it is lowered forms, practically, a continuation of the surface of the basewall of the draw-head. At its forward end the linkadjuster has a transverse angular opening, 3, formed through it for the insertion of an operating shaft or handle, D, by which such link-adj uster may be turned to elevate its rear end and so adjust the angle of the link held in the draw-head.

In the construction shown in Fig. 5 the shaft v construction shown in Figs. 2 and 3, in which the shaft is extended through the liftinghook or link-adj uster so forming a connection therewith, and has a crank-arm, d,'which is joined, by a rod, E, or other suitable-connection, with a lever, F, which is pivoted between its ends and usually extends at its handle end in convenient reach from the side of the car. By this construction the link-adjuster may be operated from the side of the car,and where desired the lever may extend to both sides of the car; or separate levers may be provided leading to the opposite sides of the car, as may be regarded most convenient. At its rear end the link-adjuster has arms 0, which fit in the wings I) of the socket B, and which arms engage the side portions ofa link and tilt the link to elevate its outer end to any desired degree. 7 At the outer edges of the extremities of the arms 0, I form upturned teats or ears 4,, whichsteady the engagement of the adjuster G with the link.

The described construction for adjusting the angle of the link is simple and will be found to efficiently serve the desired purpose. For the purpose of preventing the removal of the link-adj uster from the draw-head I provideit atit-s pivoted end and in one or both sides with circular groove 5, concentric with seat with a forward extension, 9, at its upper Y -side,on which the pin rests in the set position of the parts, and below which the entering link strikes the seat to move it back and release the pin H, which in such case falls through and secures thelink. I form this pinseat of two sectionsan upper one, I, and a lower one, Jwhich are united together after their insertion in the draw-head. By forming them in sections the upper section can be first inserted in the draw-head and fitted up in the groove F and the lower section, J, be then ap plied and secured to the section I.

In connecting the sections I J, I form them at their front ends with overlapping portionsthat is to say, one of them has a portion which laps in front of the other--and a screw, K, is passed through said overlapping portion into the other section, uniting them rigidly together.

It is preferred to further brace the sections I and J together by forming a tapered dovetail rib, t, on the under side of section I and forming the upper side of the section J with a dovetail groove or socket, j, fitted to receive such rib, the front wall, j, of the groove in such construction being the overlapping portion through which the fastening is carried. By preference the upper side of the pin seat is grooved longitudinally, which formation gives a better seat for the pin, and also reduces the frictionsurface of the pin-support, as will be seen.

The pin-seat may be pressed normally forward by a spring, as shown in Fig. 1, or such spring might be omitted and the pin-seat formed or provided with a lateral arm or han dle portion, as indicated in dotted lines, Fig. (i, which handle may project through a slot in the side of the draw-head to facilitate the movement of the seat forward by hand; or the hand may be inserted in the mouth of the draw head to draw the seat forward.

In operation the teats or cars 4 serve to straighten the link in the draw-head. Thus, if the link be in the draw-head with its outer end inclining off to one side or the other, the operation of the link-adjuster to elevate the link will, by means of the ears 4, draw the link into proper position.

It will be understood that one of my,improved couplings might be secured on a locomotive to receive the long draw'bar or link which extends forward over the pilot, and the link-adjuster might in such connection be operated by the engineer or fireman. In such construction the ears 4 might be useful when the long draw-bar has a lateral swing, or the ears maybe omitted when such bar is fitted snugly to the draw-head.

I provide openings 7 through the base-wall of the draw-head leading from the mortise B for the exit of dust, dirt, and the grindings produced by the contact of the parts in operation.

It will be understood that while I prefer to form the link-adjuster in one piece it might be formed in two sections, as indicated in dotted lines, Fig. 4, in which case the mortise B in the base-wall of the draw-head might be formed of two wings separated by an intermediate wall, as will be readily understood from Fig. 4.

By pivoting the link-adjuster at its forward end, so that its rear end will in practice be uptilted to engage thelink, I avoid all danger of breakage of the parts should the link enter the draw-head when the adjuster is elevated, as such a condition of things would only result in the adjuster being lowered by the force of the entering link.

Another advantage of such arrangement is, that thereby a given movement of the link may be accomplished by less movement of the adjuster than if the adjuster were pivoted at its rear end.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is- 1. In a car-coupling, the combination, with the draw-head having its base-wall formed with a mortise in its upper side, of a link-adjuster seated in said mortise and pivotally supported at or near its front edge, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, in a car-coupling,with the drawhead, of a link-adjuster pivotally supported at its front edge and having its rear edge arranged and adapted to engage the link, substantially as set forth.

3. In a car-coupling, the combination of the draw-head, the link-adjuster pivotally supported therein, whereby it may be tilted to adjust the angle of the link, and having .a curved groove formed concentric with the center of motion of the link'adjuster, and a pin projected from the draw-head and entering the curved groove in the link-adjuster, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

4. In a ear-coupling, a drawllead having a pin or projection, 6, combined with a linkadjuster consisting of a block or plate having at one end a transverse non-circular opening and a curved groove, 5, and provided at its opposite end with arms 0, having upturned teats or ears 4 at the outer edges of their extremities, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

5. The combination of the draw-head and the link-adjuster pivotally supported at one end and provided at its other end with teats or cars projected upwardly at its opposite sides, substantially as set forth.

6. In a ear-coupling, the combination of the draw-head having one of its walls provided internally with a longitudinal groove and the pin-support bearing at one side within said groove and at its opposite side againstthe opposite wall of the draw-head, substantially as set forth.

7. The combination of the draw-head having a groove, F, the pin-seat section I, fitted at one edge in the grooveFand having LIlb,i, on its opposite edge, and the section J, having a dovetail groove, j, fitted to receive rib i, and

9. In combination with the draw-head, the pin seat or support formed of two sections, I and J, provided, respectively, with a dovetail rib and socket, substantially as and for the 15 purposes specified.

SAMUEL A. YOUNG.

Witnesses:

P. B. TURPIN, SoLoN C. KEMoN. 

